Leading European medical and psychological student associations join Right to Research Coalition

Leading European medical and psychological student associations join Right to Research Coalition

Washington, DC – The European Medical Students’ Association (EMSA) and the European Federation of Psychology Students’ Associations (EFPSA) have joined the Right to Research Coalition, bringing more than 300,000 individuals into the coalition’s network of students advocating for and educating others about Open Access to research. These two organizations join a dozen leading national and international student organizations to become members of the Right to Research Coalition since January.

Founded in 2009, the Right to Research Coalition is an international alliance of 47 undergraduate and graduate student organizations that works to educate the next generation of scholars and researchers about Open Access and to advocate for policies at the campus, national, and international levels that expand access to the results of research.

The two new members have already demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting Open Access and leveraging the power of their members to effect change. EMSA has made Open Access a focus at their recent General Assemblies, and has begun engaging the Standing Committee of European Doctors (Comité Permanent des Médecins Européens) on the topic. Similarly supportive, EFPSA publishes an open-access journal and has had members call on the American Psychological Association to embrace more open publishing practices.

"It is crucial that medical students have access to relevant, high-quality research for the best possible education,” said Borislav Manev, President of the European Medical Students’ Association. “This access is critical to a research-based education that will allow today's students to advance medical research further and take better care of their patients in the future. EMSA is proud to be a member of the Right to Research Coalition and work with other like-minded student organizations to promote this issue of vital importance to students in every discipline and in every country around the world."

Maris Vainre, editor-in-chief of the EFPSA open-access journal, said, “We believe unrestricted access to scientific knowledge is vital to enhance the quality of psychology as a science and our own education in becoming scientists and practitioners. The European Federation of Psychology Students' Associations acknowledges the importance of open access to science and therefore publishes its Journal of European Psychology Students following this principle. To further emphasize our support to the movement, EFPSA joined the Right to Research Coalition.”

Other national and international student organizations to join the Right to Research Coalition over the past year include the European Pharmaceutical Students' Association (EPSA), the International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS), the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA), the Lebanese Medical Students' International Committee (LeMSIC), Medsin-UK, and the Medical Students’ Association of Kenya (MSAKE).

For more information about the coalition and how to join as an organization or express support as an individual, visit http://www.righttoresearch.org.

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About the Right to Research Coalition

Founded by students in the summer of 2009, the Right to Research Coalition is an international alliance undergraduate and graduate student organizations, representing nearly 7 million students, that promotes Open Access to scholarship. The Right to Research Coalition believes no student should be denied access to the published articles they need, because they or their institution cannot afford access. The coalition works to educate the next generation of scholars and researchers about Open Access and to advocate for policies at the campus, national, and international levels that expand access to the results of research.

The Right to Research Coalition is an initiative of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC).

Also, a couple of weeks ago, we have published an analysis of top psychology journals, their publishers and access policies at the Journal of European Psychology Students Bulletin. And to say the least, things don't look too bright for psychology. You can find it here:

Open Access to research is vital for 21st century critical thinker professionals and public. Less emphasis on dollars and more on learning, networking, collaborating,peer-to-peer learning and enabling all equal access to opportunities and outcomes.

hi!um a 5th year medical student from bangladesh,working in different international organizations and medical journals.is there any chance of collaboration with you to share experiences from asia?cheers!